Valve operating button for dispensing pressurized material and die for forming the same



Nov. 1960 R. H. ABPLANALP ETAL 62,228

. VALVE OPERATING BUTTON F OR DISPENSING PRESSURIZED I MATERIAL AND DIE FOR FORMING THE SAME Filed Nov. 8, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Poss/Pr HEN/2r HBPLHAMLP J QHN P/CHFJQD FOCHT ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1960 R. H. ABPLANA ETAI. 2 VALVE OPERATING BUTTON FOR DIS E SING PRESSURIZED ERIAL AND DIE FOR FORMING THE SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MAT Filed Nov. 8, 1956 I INVENTORS 9 ROBERT HEN/P) Ham q/v/up V'H/v E/ga/gRD flock/7 ATTORNEY United VALVE OPERATING BUTTON FOR DISPENSING PRESSURIZED MATERIAL AND DIE FOR FORM- ING THE SAME Filed Nov. 8, 1956, Ser. No. 621,138

2 Claims. (Cl. 239-489) This invention is directed to a button adapted to be associated with the dispensing valve stem of a container package of pressurized material and operated to dispense the material from the container thereof. The invention also includes a die for pressure molding of said button. 1 An important feature of the button of this invention is that it may be utilized to dispense either aerosol materials or mixtures of solid active ingredients in suspension in a liquid or gaseous propellent.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a button which will produce a high degree of turbulence of the material as it is dispensed, so that, in the discharge of mixtures, the solid constituent thereof will be in the form of discrete particles free from agglomerates and uniformly distributed in the spray pattern.

According to the present invention, this primary object is obtained in a button of one-piece integral construction, the nozzle portion of which embodies one or more helical channels through which the material is caused to pass under pressure. Such material is fed from the channels into a circular space in a generally tangential direction to the latter, so as to cause a pronounced swirling action in said space. This space is in communication with the discharge outlet of the nozzle, and consequently said material exists from the nozzle opening at a relatively high swirling speed which persists in the spray pattern. This speed of discharge with a swirling motion, effects a high degree of turbulence and consequent admixture of all portions of thematerial, so as to provide the uniform distribution of such material in the spray pattern and consequent uniform application of such material to any particular surface against which the discharged material may be directed.

An important feature of this invention is that, through the use of the die hereinafter described, it is possible to mold the button as a one-piece, integrally formed structure, by well known pressure molding procedure and this makes it possible to manufacture this button at so stantially the same cost as the ordinary conventional butt-on which wholly lacks the advantages achieved by this invention.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and appended claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a fragmental side elevation of a retractable core which carries an orifice pin forming a salient feature of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a core pin forming part of the male die.

tcs Patent YO Patented Nov. 29, 1960 ice Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a central cross section of male and female dies, including the orifice pin of Fig. 1, showing the die parts assembled and ready for the introduction of a charge of plastic into the die cavity.

Fig. 8 shows the molding or cast formed within the die couple of Fig. 7. This figure shows the finished button in central section attached to the upper end of a tubular valve stem.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmental section on the broken line 10 10 of Fig. 9.

In making the button of this invention, the die couple shown in Fig. 7 is employed. This couple comprises a female die 1 having therein a die cavity 2 into which plastic may be fed through a runner 3 having a constricted inlet gate 4. This is the preferred manner of gating the cavity, although the plastic may be introduced into the cavity in any other manner.

The male die comp-rises a part 5 provided with a projecting core pin 6. This core pin is provided therein with a slot 7 extending downwardly fro-m its upper end for a portion of its height. This portion of the core pin has fiat parallel sides 8, as shown best in Fig. 6, while below the slotted portion, the pin is preferably cylindrical so as to mold the cavity 9 shown in Fig. 8 for the reception of a tubular valve stem illustrated in this figure.

One side of the female die 1 is provided with an inclined passage 11 for the reception of a retractable core 12. This core is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement within the passage 11' and carries what we term an orifice pin. A portion of this pin, indicated at 13, is mounted for sliding movement in said passage and has at its inner end a flange 14 which is normally forced against a seat by spring 15 as shown in Fig. 1. The outer end of the orifice pin is rigid with an orifice core 16. As shown best in Figs. 1-3, this orifice core has an internal cylindrical bore 17 for the greater portion of its length which bore is open at its outer end, while its inner end is conical in form.

The exterior of the orifice core 16 is made frusto conical at its base adjacent the pin 13, as indicated at 18, and immediately adjacent said frusto conical portion, said core has a cylindrical portion 19. The outer end of said core 16 has a similar cylindrical portion 20 and between such cylindrical portions 19 and 20, the exterior surface is provided with recesses 21 and 22 forming between them circumferentially spaced apart helical ribs 23 and 24. The overall outer diameter of the orifice core 16, i.e., the outer surfaces of the parts '19, 23, 24 and 20 form parts of the same cylindrical surface, the diameter of which is substantially the same as the width of the slot 7 in the core pin 6.

With this arrangement, it is possible to assemble the die sections, as shown in Fig. 7, with the orifice pin and core projecting into the cavity 2 and with the orifice core 16 projecting into the slot 7 of the male die core pin 6, as is clearly shown in Fig. 7.

When the die parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 7, a plastic such, for example, as a polyethylene plastic may be pressure introduced into the die cavity to form the button shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. In so molding the button, the main portion of the cavity 2 forms the body 2a of the button. The cylindrical portion of the core pin 6 forms the cavity 9 to receive the tubular cylindrical valve stem 10, as shown in Fig. 8. The cylindrical center portion 17 of the orifice core forms a projection 17a or rod rigid with a fin 7:: formed by the slot 7. The orifice core 16 forms an orifice passage about the projection 17a. That is to say, the frusto conical portion of the passage 18a is formed by the part 18 of said core. The circular chamber 19a is formed by the part 19, the circular chamber 20:: is formed by the part 20, and helical channels 23a and 24a connect the circular portions 20a and 19a and are formed by the ribs 23 and 24 respectively. The walls about the slot 7 form passages 25 communicating with the circular portion 20a and'leading downwardly to the cavity 9. Inasmuch as the base of the orifice core 16 is of less diameter than the part 12, the frusto conical chamber 18a will have an open end d, while that portion of the part 12 which extends into the die cavity will form the mouth 12a of the button.

A button, constructed as described, is adapted to be mounted on any tubular valve stem 10, as shown in Fig. 8. If a valve of the character shown in Abplanalp Patent No. 2,631,814 is employed, pressure upon the push button will open the valve so that the material within the associated container will pass upwardly through the valve stem into the passages 25, from which it will be led into the cylindrical chamber 20a which serves as a header or feeder for the helical passages 23a and 2411. The material will course through said passages to enter the cylindrical chamber 19a substantially tangential of the latter and will whirl about in said chamber. As the chamber 19a fills, the material, while continuing its whirling movement, will be forced through the frusto conical chamber 18:: from which it will exit through the discharge opening d of the button in a rapid swirling motion to form a substantially conical spray pattern of which said motion persists to bring about uniform distribution of all the constituents of the material. The whirling action, to which reference has been made, is illustrated graphically in Fig.

10 and serves to effectively produce uniformity of distribution by the admixture of the said constituents.

In carrying out this invention, the plastic employed is preferably one which may be pressure molded such, for example, as polyethylene. Such a plastic is quite elastic while it remains in the hot die and this permits the retractable core to be removed from the 'cast after it is made because the orifice portion of the button is of such small dimension that no difiiculty is experienced in the withdrawal of the part 12 and the orifice core which it carries. Furthermore, the projection 6 of the male member of the die may also be easily withdrawn, to leave the button in the cavity, as shown in Fig. 8. The button may be thereafter discharged from the cavity according to any appropriate pressure molding practice, such as the use of one or more plungers acting through the closed end of the cavity.

Experience with the die of this invention and the button formed therein has fully demonstrated the practicability of die-molding the button in such a die and the efiiciency of that button in properly dispensing and dispersing the pressurized material with which it is adapted for use.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms, but the invention is to be understood as fullycommensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A valve operating button for the tubular valve stem of an aerosol container, said button being a onepiece integral molding having in its bottom a socket to receive such a valve stem with a chamber above said socket, an integral fin extending into said chamber carrying an integral cylindrical rod extending in a lateral direction from said fin, said button having a discharge opening through its lateral exterior surface coaxial with said rod, said discharge opening communicating interiorly of the button with at least one helical channel surrounding said integral rod and which helical channel leads from the chamber above the socket whereby material entering said chamber may flow through the helical channel to the discharge opening to be discharged through said openmg.

2. A valve operating button for the tubular valve stem of an aerosol container, said button being a one-piece integral molding having in its bottom a socket to receive an associated tubular valve stem, a discharge opening through the lateral side of the button merging interiorly of the button with a circular chamber positioned laterally of the axis of the socket, at least one helical channel leading from said socket to said circular chamber substantially tangentially of the latter, and a cylindrical rod integral with the button and extending from the said circular chamber coaxially of said channel with its cylindrical surface contiguous to the open side of the channel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,015,395 Dray Sept. 24, 1935 2,027,954 Barclay Jan. 14, 1936 2,509,278 Scheuermann et al May 30, 1950 2,519,171 Bolten Aug. 15, 1950 2,534,253 Fash Dec. 19, 1950 2,628,864 Rogers Feb. 17, 1953 2,639,941 Glynn May 26, 1953 2,705,661 Meissner Apr. 5, 1955 2,746,796 St. Germain May 22, 1956 2,767,023 Venus Oct. 16, 1956 2,777,735 Green Jan. 15, 1957 2,818,202 Abplanalp Dec. 31, 1957 2,835,417 Kiraly May 20, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 85,553 Sweden Feb. 18,1936 

